So I think this actually has some elements of the Pride and Prejudice plot. I kinda just embraced it.

Keith remembered it like it was yesterday. He'd always been possessive over his toys, but he laughed when Lance McClain, the neighbor boy, picked up his rocket ship and began to dance around the room avoiding asteroids and planets. They were playing in the attic and Keith sat on an old box and let the boy's imagination entertain him.

His best friend was wild and energetic, much unlike him who was quiet and reserved. Lance could talk for hours on end and Keith would just lay and listen with delight. He thought Lance was goofy and would always get a rise from his cheesy jokes.

The window was open and the breeze shoved at the drapes making them flurry in the air. The light pouring in shined bright and small particles of dust floated lazily in the air only to be disrupted by Lance's play.

He had bandaids trailed up his legs and a space ranger shirt that was too big matching his shorts. He had tanned skin, freckles, and chocolate colored hair. His blue eyes were filled with childlike wonder as they followed the ship he was flying and his mouth was open in a wide smile, perfectly displaying his missing and crooked teeth.

Keith had giggled when Lance tripped and fell on his butt. Lance frowned grumpily but it had disappeared when he caught sight of Keith. Eventually they both burst into laughter and Keith slid off the box to the floor with Lance.

Keith walked down the hall going mostly unnoticed. He liked to blend in and had no complaints with being easily forgotten. It was fun to reminisce of a time when there weren't cliques, trends, brands, or statuses. A time when they were young enough to just like people for what they were. A time when Lance McClain of all people had kissed Keith and promised he'd marry him one day. It was something Keith had laughed at then and simply rolled his eyes at now.

For a kid who promised to marry him one day, he did a pretty good job of pretending Keith doesn't exist.

As if on cue, Lance passed him in the hall. Their eyes met for a moment but Lance redirected his attention back to his buddies. Keith felt silly for wishing Lance could be that young kid again who hadn't yet been broken down and reshaped by society to fit the mold of a perfect popular teenage boy.

Lance was tall now, towering over Keith's average height. He still had his freckles and his hair was wavier now, being short on the sides and longer on top. His shoulder's were broad and hips thin.

There were always rumors going around the school about him, but one true one was that he'd never dated anyone, besides one girl in seventh grade. Him and Allura had lasted a whopping total of three days, which was fairly average for most junior high relationships.

Many people have theories that he has a secret girlfriend from another school or that he likes Allura still, some people even claim he likes Romelle who's been in a relationship for two years. Depending on who you ask the rumor changes, but one thing stays the same, it's their confidence that their rumor is the right one.

Keith sat down in English exhaustedly. He'd stayed up too late the previous night and was sure he'd ruined his sleep schedule. Shiro has been trying to get him into a routine with the argument that it's healthy. It entails eating well, drinking a lot of water, working out together, and going to bed at decent times.

The class was mostly boring, talking about the ways you should use the semi colon, and when the bell rang Keith packed up his things as slow as possible. His next class was math and Lance sat at the same table as him.

When he walked into class, Lance wasn't there yet, which was a relief. Keith set his bag down by his feet, pulled out his earbuds and waited for the bell to ring. Grabbing out a notebook, he started on the 'bellringer'—a problem you're given at the very beginning of class.

He finished the problem and began to tap his pencil. Forty seconds until the bell rings. Maybe Lance was skipping. He'd never skipped math before, but it's a possibility. Or he could feel ill and have gone home early.

Just then, Lance walked through the door like he didn't have a care in the world. Keith hated that with an actual passion. He had this carefree attitude everywhere he went, but every time he made eye contact with Keith, he seemed to seize up.

Lance sat down joining the four desk table. The other two people at the table were girls who are 'BFFF's' as they put it. They usually did most of the chatting and the two boys only occasionally spoke and it was almost always related to the topic of math.

When Keith looked up, he found Lance was already staring at him. The tall boy went rigid and looked down at his paper to work on the bellringer. "Do you need help?" Keith asked finally. It's probably the only thing he's directly said to Lance since they were kids.

Lance seemed completely thrown off. "Oh, no, I... I just wanted to compare answers. 45.3?"

Keith nodded. "Yeah, I got that too." And just like that, the conversation was dead.

Keith used to tell this boy everything, and he used to know so much about him. Part of Keith wondered if his favorite food was still garlic knots, or his favorite color was still blue, or if he still bites his nails when he's nervous. Keith glanced at Lance's hands, he guessed he outgrew the last one. What else changed?

The lesson began and she started off teaching a new subject. It was more like taking what they've already learned a step further.

"Okay please partner up with your table mates, so two teams per table. Then grab a whiteboard, marker, and eraser, one per pair." She then went to work pairing up kids who were on tables with absent students.

The two girls at their table immediately looked to each other happily. That was when it dawned on the two boys that they'd be working together. "I'll grab the stuff." Keith quickly stood up avoiding eye contact.

As he grabbed the materials, Keith gave himself a weak attempt at a pep talk. He tried to hype himself up for the very awkward situation to come, but it was to no avail. He dreaded it.

He sat down setting the items in between them and still said nothing. They waited in silence for their next instructions (which felt like an eternity).

The teacher put a problem up on the board and asked them to solve it as a team on their shared whiteboards. Keith hesitantly picked up the marker and turned the board so that it could be visible to both of them. He jotted down the problem quickly just to get something started.

"Hey, your handwriting is nice." Lance seemed to say wistfully. Keith looked up quizzically, why was he commenting on the quality of his writing of all things? "I mean...- it's just that it used to be messy."

"To be fair, I was like seven." Keith tilted his head slightly.

"Right, right, I guess that's true." Lance glided a hand through his hair nervously.

"How you remember what my penmanship was like a decade ago, I don't know." Keith nudged a small conversational smile.

"I just happened upon something you wrote for me when we were little the other day." Lance shrugged.

Keith suddenly felt himself freeze up. What was on that letter? It could very well be the source of future probable blackmail.

"What exactly did I write to you?" Keith asked as casual as he could muster.

Lance shifted leaning his elbows on the table. "Remember how we were sort of... well, we thought we were going to get married when we were older?" Lance asked in a lower, quieter voice.

Keith felt his mouth go dry. The fact Lance even admitted to having ever been associated with him in any way was miraculous enough, but to admit their lovely marital fantasy's? Again, this could just pan out to be future blackmail on Keith, but he was curious as to what purpose Lance had in bringing up such past inquiries. So, he nodded silently.

"Well, I kept a trunk of all my important possessions and I found a letter from you. Well, it's actually- it was what you planned to be your wedding vows."

Keith felt his face suddenly go hot and vision a little fuzzy. This could not be happening. "What do you want?" Keith dropped the dry erase marker and asked suddenly.

"What?" Lance seemed to soften slightly. Confused at the sudden implied intentions behind bringing up such a letter.

"What do you want for the letter?" Keith asked lowly.

"I'm not- I'm not going to give you the letter back." Lance shook his head gently.

"Are you going to spread it around the school or something?" Keith bit at the insides of his cheek.

"No, of course not!" Lance's face turned offended. "I'm not bringing it up as blackmail, you just asked how I knew what your handwriting looked like and I was answering you."

Keith contemplated it for a moment and sighed picking up the dry erase marker again.

"Do you really think I'd blackmail you?" Lance asked a little out of the blue. He looked almost hurt at the implication.

Keith's veins ran cold at the question. The answer was really no. Because part of Keith still believed that maybe Lance still held some affection toward what had once been. Maybe some part of the time spent together still was held dear to him as it was to Keith. However, Lance had changed. He wasn't the same boy who shared all his deepest darkest secrets with Keith, or built forts with him up in the attic where they'd sit and play card games together while The Beatles played on the stereo. So, he settled with a shrug.

Lance looked down and said nothing. He seemed at a loss with Keith's response. It wasn't long before the bell rang. The pair did prove to get little math done as they mostly didn't speak for the rest of the class.

When the bell had rung, Keith packed up his things in record time and left the classroom. He was horrified to hear Lance say his name in a rush to grab his attention before he was too far lost in the crowded hallway.

Keith turned around not really sure what to expect. However, what he did see left him speechless.

It was Lance, frantic and nervous, holding his schoolbag, binder, and notebook. He hadn't the time to shove them in his bag because of Keith's quick attempt at a getaway. Keith couldn't help but think to himself that this was the most disorganized, and imperfect he'd ever seen Lance. Normally, he was this boy who never had a hair out of place and this carefree attitude, like everything came easy.

"I... I wanted to ask if you'd like to hang out. Like, maybe tomorrow after school or something?" Lance spoke fast and almost incomprehensible.

It took a few moments for Keith to even catch up to the statement. But when he did, he let out a slightly taken aback: "Tomorrow is Saturday."

Lance suddenly let out a low attractive chuckle skimming a hand past his hair. "Right, well, just tomorrow then?"

Keith. Was. Flabbergasted. "Um, sure." He let slip without thinking the answer entirely through.

"Uh, great." He smiled, almost surprised Keith agreed. Then again, Keith was surprised with himself too. "Could I maybe get your number?"

Keith nodded. His body was practically on autopilot at this point. It made the next part--writing his number on a Lances arm in pen--a little easier.

Keith took the time walking to his next class to bring himself back to reality. Remind himself to breath and to blink.

When Keith reached his chemistry class, his attitude had quickly changed as he thought about the occurrence. Soon he began to fester. Lance, of all people! His absolute best and only friend tosses him aside, pretends he doesn't exist, and now, because he gave Keith even the slightest bit of attention it had him head over heels. Keith sighed inwardly, it wasn't necessarily that. With how long ago they'd been close, it still felt like yesterday to him. As much as Lance appeared to change, he'd always in some way be the boy who'd blow his mind with his random space facts, or help him catch frogs in the creek behind their houses.

As fond as Keith was of the memories he'd had with Lance, he still had some unresolved resentment for never having acknowledged him through the years. Keith had been through much since his friendship with Lance ended. His father died and his brother had taken guardianship and his mother never turned up after her disappearance when he was just a baby.

Had it never occurred to Lance that Keith had needed a friend then? Maybe it had and he simply didn't care. Whatever the reason, Keith decided it didn't matter. Lance is just a boy he was once friends with and nothing more or less.

But when the nervous butterflies didn't disappear from his stomach he realized it wouldn't-couldn't be that simple.

The next morning, Keith checked his phone to see no messages. He wanted to shrug it off as he should have expected it. Yet, he still found himself disappointed.

Keith peeled himself from his bed and took a shower. It was when he was scrubbing shampoo into his hair that he heard a small ding sound from his phone. He reached out of the shower and snatched up his phone to see.

Unknown: Hey, want to study later? I need help with some chemistry homework.

Keith clenched his phone a little tighter. So that was it. He just needed help with homework. Lance never actually wanted to hang out or catch up.

Keith debated his response for a moment before typing out a response and sending it.

Keith: sure, what time?

Lance responded immediately.

Unknown: How does 4 sound? Your place?

Keith pondered it briefly. Shiro would be at work so they would have the apartment to themselves.

Keith: that's good

He quickly typed out his address and sent it.

When four o'clock rolled around, Keith felt slightly nervous. He tried to convince himself it wouldn't be a big deal, he'd just help him with his homework and that's it.

There was a knock at the door and Keith felt his stomach twist. He opened the door to see Lance standing there dressed in nice jeans and a shirt with a flannel over the top.

"Hey, come in." Keith turned and moved out of the way. Lance walked inside and shut the door behind him. Keith noticed Lance didn't have a bag with him or anything of the sort.

"So, chemistry?" Keith asked walking down the hall to his bedroom just to clarify.

"Yeah," Lance confirmed following him.

Keith walked into his bedroom and Lance quietly entered behind him. He turned around to face Lance when he noticed the boy was especially nervous. "Where is... your chemistry..." Keith trailed off. Lance's fists were opening and closing and his breathing shallow.

Lance took one last breath, shook out his hands, and dove in close. He places his hands on either side of Keith's head and pulled him into a kiss. His hands were sweaty and the kiss was frantic and nervous, however, it sent shockwaves jolting through both boys.

It lasted only a moment, and when Lance pulled away, Keith only stood shocked and dumbfounded.

"Shit..." Lance murmured. "Shit! Shit! Shit!" He looked upset suddenly. He sat himself on Keith's bed and his head fell into his hands.

Keith tried to keep his cool, attempted to remain level headed. Obviously Lance is going through something and needs help.

"You didn't need help with chemistry did you?" Keith awkwardly rubbed at his neck.

Lance lifted his head from his hands to give Keith a 'you can't be serious' kind of face. "Help with chemistry homework is code for snogging. Everyone knows that."

"Then why didn't you just say that? I agreed to chemistry not... that," Keith found he couldn't even say out loud what just occurred. The thought was just to crazy.

"What do you mean? You are gay aren't you?" Lance looked confused.

"I am, but that doesn't mean I'm going to snog any guy willing." Keith snapped a little.

"Sorry," Lance stood up to leave.

"Wait," Keith sighed, "do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really." Lance ran a hand through his hair.

"Too bad." Keith gave him a light shove to sit back on the bed. "I'd like at least some explanation."

Lance let out a bit of a sigh that lead Keith to believe he actually really did want to talk about it. "I... I don't know if you know this but I haven't dated really. My only girlfriend was in middle school and it lasted not even a week. I just... there's something..."

Keith listened cautiously, Lance seemed to be struggling to talk about whatever this is, he suspected the boy had been keeping it to himself a long time.

"I haven't been attracted to women. Well, I find them attractive, but men too. Except, there hasn't been... anything. There's nothing, I don't feel anything romantic for anyone I've come by." Lance let out a breath. "I found that letter you wrote me. I read it probably a billion times over. I had this giddy feeling, and when I saw you at school, I had that feeling again. I guess, I just wanted to put my suspicions to the test."

"And?" Keith wanted the results of such a test.

"And I think I'm in love with you." Lance said bluntly.

"Oh." Keith gave a slow nod.

"Oh? That's it?" Lance looked to Keith astonished. "That's all you have to say to me after I just confessed to having been in love with you since we were kids?"

"Well... it's a lot to process!!" Keith defended. "In case you haven't forgotten, you pretty much ignored my existence for the past ten years so excuse me for not being totally on board."

"This was a stupid idea anyway," Lance shook his head standing up.

"That's it?" Keith returned the phrase. "That's all you have to say about that? Not an apology? Not even a lame excuse for why?"

Lance frowned, "Why does it have to be you?" He groaned.

Keith felt anger turn at him. "You're right, it was a stupid idea to come here. Please leave."

"Wait," Lance sighed, "that's not what I meant,"

"I don't care, just go." Keith walked out of the bedroom and to the door opening it.

Lance began to walk out and stopped right before he stepped out the door. "I really am sorry."

"Yeah me too." Keith said before shutting the door. "Good riddance." He muttered to himself as soon as it closed.

Keith sat on the couch and suddenly an onslaught of emotions hit him. He couldn't stop the pounding of his heart, but the most prominent emotion was anger. Who did Lance think he was anyway?

Sunday eventually rolled around and Keith couldn't stop thinking about the encounter. By the time it was evening, he managed to finish his homework. He was putting his school bag together when his phone gave a ding. He picked it up and when he saw who it was from, he nearly dropped his phone.

He opened the message to see practically and essay waiting for him.

Keith, I'm so incredibly sorry for what happened yesterday. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I just keep screwing up with you. I did want to clarify one thing you mentioned yesterday. About how I ignored you all these years. It wasn't your fault in any way. I had an uncle and I always looked up to him. When he came to visit on one occasion, he found out about my relationship with you. He was very homophobic and he spouted off about how wrong it was. I started ignoring you shortly after. I felt guilty from then on about my feelings toward you. I never felt that way before my uncle. Its no excuse for what I did, but I at least wanted you to know. I don't expect you to ever return my feelings, but I hope you can at least forgive me.

Keith read and reread the text at least a hundred times over. He debated with himself how he should even respond. This did change things.

He settled on asking Lance if he'd like to meet up and talk. He spent ten minutes typing out the text simply because nothing sounded just right.

Finally he was happy with the text and pressed the button to send. Except, it wouldn't.

Contact has been blocked. All messages and calls will not be received.

This bastard. He drops a bombshell like that and just blocks him!? Keith sets his jaw as he skimmed the words again.

Keith did understand his reasoning. While it wasn't handled maybe in the best way, Keith was just mostly relieved. Relieved that it wasn't something petty or bad. But Keith knew Lance cared a lot about his family's opinion and knew all too well how easily children can be influenced by adults around them.

Keith would like to tell Lance this. At least he would be able to if it weren't for that stupid beanstalk blocking him.

The next morning, Keith got ready and snatched up his bag. He was still frustrated about Lance. He barely slept, every time his eyes would shut, he could picture Lance's face right before he kissed him. Nervous, full of worry that he might actually like Keith. Then he'd remember the way Lance looked after. How his face contorted into a defeated look at the realization his fears had been true. How he cursed and looked so distraught. 'Am I really that bad?' Keith couldn't help but think.

Keith tossed the bag in his car and got in. He turned the key a few times before the car finally started. The car was old and finicky, but it's all he could afford. He silently thanked god that today wasn't the day it decided not to start. Today was already rough enough as it is.

When he got to school, he turned the engine off and just sat in his car for a moment. He wasn't sure he was ready to face Lance and deal with his stupidly handsome face.

As if on cue, the boy drove right past Keith and parked only a couple spaces over. Lance got out and grabbed his bag. Of course Keith couldn't help but watch. Everything about Lance just made him nervous and fuzzy which upset him.

Lance turned to start walking into the school and made eye contact with Keith, finally realizing he was there. Keith quickly looked down at his phone and felt a wave of panic.

Keith technically rejected Lance, so he shouldn't be the one embarrassed, but yet here he was. Though it really was still Lance's fault, maybe if he had talked to him rather than springing it on him it would be different. Though, Keith couldn't help but feel guilty at how angry he got at Lance, especially now that he knows more of the full story.

When Keith looked back up from his phone, Lance was walking through the entrance of the school and out of sight.

Keith muttered a curse and got out of his car.

Keith managed to pretty much avoid Lance for an entirety of the day but finally math rolled around and he couldn't stop what was about to come.

He sat down in his seat and could barely focus on the bellringer. His eyes kept shifting to the clock.

Two minutes until the bell rings.

One minute.

Twenty seconds.

Lance walked in and the bell rang just as he took his seat. He kept his gaze low and never dared to look at Keith.

This made Keith feel another ping of guilt shoot through him. What was Lance thinking? What could be going through his head?

Surprisingly the class went by smoothly for the most part. Besides the awkward tension between the boys, they did their work and followed along. Thankfully there was no partner assignment today. The bell rang and Keith headed to chemistry to finish off the day. Then he could go home and call it quits.

When it was finally time to go home, Keith made a rush to his car. It felt like a safe zone and he finally could go home and forget the awful day. Get Lance off his mind.

He turned his keys and felt his heart sink a little. He tried again. Still wouldn't start. He pumped his break and tried again.

He let his head thump against the steering wheel.

There was a light knock on the window and Keith's head shot up.

Lance!

Keith felt a flutter in his chest which was followed up with a dreadful feeling. He opened his door and stood up.

"Do you need a ride?" Lance asked rubbing his neck nervously.

"That's okay, I'm just going to call Shiro. Plus I kind of live out of the way." Keith answered leaning against the car.

"I don't mind. Look, I don't want to just leave you here..." Lance rubbed his eyes. "I'm not going to spring a kiss on you like I did Saturday."

Keith wasn't honestly opposed to him doing it again. "That's not-... fine." Keith grabbed his bag.

"Really?" Lance seemed almost surprised Keith agreed.

He unlocked his car and Keith got in the passengers seat. It was quiet as Lance pulled out of the parking lot and Keith was beginning to regret his decision. He desperately wanted to talk about all of it but Lance was probably over it and moved on already. It would explain why he blocked Keith. He decided he would at all costs not talk about it.

"A-about Saturday..." Lance began.

"Why the hell did you block me?" Keith suddenly snapped.

"I don't want to upset you anymore." Lance shook his head slightly. "I just at least wanted to get that last thing off my chest."

"Is that why you're giving me a ride? Because you wanted to clear everything up?" Keith asked.

"No, I'm giving you a ride because your car broke down and I didn't want you waiting in an empty parking lot by yourself till Shiro got there." Lance pursed his lips.

That comment made his stomach flutter lightly. Of course Lance has to say things like that. Those things that make him want to grab his face and kiss him. "Oh. T-thank you."

"Did I upset you when I blocked your number?" Lance asked with a hint of guilt.

"No. Well yes. But, only because you finally cleared up a big problem and I couldn't even respond. I'm sorry about your uncle." Keith answered quietly.

"Then do you forgive me? You don't still hate me?" Lance asked.

"Lance I've never ever hated you. And I already forgave you a long time ago." Keith mumbled looking out the window. It was quiet and when Keith turned to see Lance smiling, he was surprised. Did it really bring him that much delight to know Keith didn't hate him?

"Keith, I know I probably already blew my chances, but if I asked you on a date, would you say yes?"

Keith pursed his lips and rubbed his hands on his jeans. "Lance... I love you. Well, I mean, I loved who you used to be. I don't really know you anymore. Not to say that I don't want to. But what I want most of all right now, is to have my friend back. That stuff can come later."

Lance was quiet a moment. "I can do that. It's going to be hard to wait, but you're worth it. It's going to be even harder if you keep talking like that." He smiled and cut a fond look to Keith before turning his attention back to the road.

Keith felt butterflies in his stomach. Maybe it would be harder than he thought. "How do you think your friends at school will react seeing you taking to me?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean... you." Keith gestured, "Me."

"Well, firstly, it's none of their business." Lance raised his eyebrows. "Secondly, if they have something negative to say, then they're no friends of mine."

Keith couldn't help but be surprised and a little proud.

The car came to a complete stop and Keith was only further surprised when he leaned forward and thoughtlessly pressed his lips to Lance's.

Caught off guard, Lance hesitated for only a fraction of a second before he was kissing back with just as much, if not more, vigor. Keith pulled away and smiled, "You're right, it will be hard to wait."

And in the blink of an eye, Keith was out of the car with bag slung over his shoulder. As he walked up to the building he gave a final wave before disappearing into the apartment complex.

And Lance sat totally and completely enamored by the beautiful boy who was unapologetically so himself.